Suggested Citation:
Circella, Giovanni and Siddhartha Gulhare (2024)

Chapter 28 - Public Transport Responses to COVID-19 in the United States

This chapter discusses the disruption experienced by the public transportation sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the response by various actors involved in its operations—government policymakers, public transportation authorities, and service operators to keep public transportation afloat—in the United States in general, and in particular in the state of California. First, this chapter provides a brief overview of public transportation in California and the timeline of the impact of the pandemic on public transportation. Then, it highlights the response from lawmakers and authorities in terms of financial support, health and safety measures, and service changes, followed by a brief description of the recovery phase for public transportation. This chapter concludes with recommendations on potential topics that require further investigation to best prepare the sector for eventual similar disruptions in the future.